Anti-colonial fighters: Omar Mukhtar (PT 3)

So, what can be learnt from the life of Omar Mukhtar and how can we apply his life to ours? Firstly, although Omar Mukhtar as a victorious commander and pious, devoted Muslim managed to resist the Italian invaders for about 20 years, his successes didn’t secure the future of Libya, which soon fell into the hands of the Italians. Even after the Italians had left, it remained and still remains as a ruined and poor country. The only way for real stability, justice, wealth and independent power is by ruling with a state that holds its own ideology which guides them to success, which is most evidently, the Khilafah, the Islamic ruling system which will implement the Shari’ah. The need of an Islamic Caliphate is of great importance, for if we do not have the laws of Allah (swt) leading us, we end up taking on other ideologies like secularism and democracy which has never worked for the Muslim countries and will never do so. The dilapidated state of Libya will never change unless man-made law is replaced by a system which is unparalleled and is sent by God himself. In addition, there are many hadith to prove not only the reestablishment of the Islamic state but also the fact that it is the will of Allah. For example, this is one of the most famous hadith that will prove my point: “There will be Prophethood for as long as Allah wills it to be, then He will remove it when He wills, then there will be Khilafah on the Prophetic method and it will be for as long as Allah wills, then He will remove it when He wills, then there will be biting Kingship for as long as Allah Wills, then He will remove it when He wills, then there will be oppressive kingship for as long as Allah wills, then he will remove it when He wills, and then there will be Khilafah upon the Prophetic method” and then he remained silent. (Imam Ahmed).

Secondly, what can we do as Muslims to be even more than Omar Mukhtar? As a Muslim, our goal should be to do da’wah. Our da’wah should include reminding our fellow Muslims about our glorious history, speaking to our families about the current situation of the world to make them contemplate or even just sharing a post or video would be a form of da’wah. We may not be able to fight like Omar Mukhtar, however, his confidence, piety, Islamic personality is what drew him to the people and was really what made him the warrior he was. If we work to be like him, by doing our own da’wah, even if it isn’t known, Allah will reward us and inshallah, reward us with something that will liberate the hearts and lands of the Muslims.

By Muhaimin Hussain